New Delhi: Media firm NDTV has been slammed by industrialist Anil Ambani before the Delhi High Court. He sued the channel for “defamatory” reports regarding an investigation allegedly carried out by his group companies. Now the case has turned into a big issue as Ambani has also connected the case to the Adani Group, which owns majority stake in NDTV.
In statements made before the court, Ambani alleged that NDTV was behind a “targeted smear campaign” against him, as the news channel consistently reported on a set of investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). His lawyers stated that there were about 72 such reports published in recent months and that many of these reports even mentioned Ambani in the context of the cases, even if they were against the companies and not against him personally.
Ambani’s lawyers also made a serious allegation in court. They said that the Adani Group has been keen to acquire or take control of some of Ambani’s enterprises and the negative publicity was aiding their “predatory strategies.” The claim has ushered in a corporate competitiveness motive in the lawsuit. But these allegations by Ambani’s side in court have not been substantiated.
The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the NDTV, its CEO Rahul Kanwal and editor-in-chief and other related parties. The court had asked them to reply to Ambani’s plea. But, the court did not immediately bar NDTV from sharing more reports. Justice Subramonium Prasad stated that freedom of speech or the freedom of the media cannot be dealt with at the moment, without all-facts and all-views consideration.
The case will be heard again in July, 2026. The defamation case is believed to be worth Rs 2 crore for Ambani against NDTV. If he is successful in the case, he will be giving the money away, reports said. The controversy began when NDTV published a number of reports on investigations related to companies associated with the Reliance ADA Group. These reports were connected to actions and probes by agencies like the CBI and ED. Ambani’s side said that the channel continuously linked his name to all the developments of the investigation, hurting his reputation and business image.
The court, on the other hand, recognized the significance of freedom of the press. NDTV’s reports were based on the ongoing investigations and lawsuits and are of public interest. For this reason, the High Court decided not to impose any immediate ban on the channel.
The case is generating interest beyond its confines of a CEO, a large media outlet, and the underlying corporate and political issues. The name of the Adani Group in the court arguments has sparked further interest in the case. The case is being closely monitored by many in the industry as a benchmark of how far free speech goes and the limits of what can be said about an individual’s reputation.
For now, the legal battle is at an early stage. The court has merely issued the notice, but no observations have been made on the allegations. NDTV and other respondents should appear in the next hearing to present their side of the story. For now, the assertions of both sides are in dispute and under consideration in the Delhi High Court.
